Senior Services manager sentenced in theft of $131K

A former program manager for the nonprofit Senior Services of King County who stole about $131,000 meant for low-income families taking care of related children, avoided jail time at his sentencing Friday.

Gregory Townsend was sentenced to 30 days work release, 240 hours of community service, and 12 months community custody, by King County Superior Court Judge Mariane Spearman. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bridgette Maryman argued for a 17-month prison sentence, but the court gave Townsend a first-time offender waiver. He had earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree theft.

Townsend managed the Kinship Care program for Senior Services. He authorized payments to a fictitious moving and hauling company that did not perform any work. He also made up the names of clients who purportedly requested the work done by the fictitious company.

The case led to the firing or discipline of several city employees for not adequately investigating allegations of fraud in the city-funded program. The employees were later order reinstated because a hearing examiner ruled that the punishment was disproportionate to that given in other city disciplinary actions.

About The Today File

The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.